Chapter 040: Seeking Employment 04

"Uhh.... where are we?" Maou asked looking around.

Shelly stopped at a dead end, leaning against a wall in silence. They had continued their city exploration but somehow managed to get stuck in a ' maze district ', wasting over thirty minutes walking back and forth, meeting dead end after dead end.

"ARGH!!!" Shelly shouted at the top of her lungs. "We passed here fifty times already!"

Shelly took a deep breath, then a long sigh followed as she slouched her shoulders, aggravated.

"Why in the name of the gods is this place so big and confusing?!" Shelly angrily questioned. "And which jester came up with these trash names?! Shńíté District? Shńìtè Street? Shñïtë Lane? Shńîtê Avenue? It all looks the same! Ticks, dots, roofs and a mustache. What's the difference?! I hate the city! I hate it here! And I hate whoever named this dumb place!"

"Are you okay?" Maou asked.

"No…. No I'm not." Shelly slicked her hair back, trying to regain her composure. "I had no idea getting stuck in a city maze was on my to-do list today. And the people here are no help either. They're probably just as confused as us."

"Are we lost?" Maou asked.

"Yes… yes we are." Shelly replied walking from the dead end. "If only I could get ontop one of these buildings, I'd find a way out."

Maou looked to the top of the buildings. They were between 7-15 meters (22-50 feet) in height.

"Do you want me to do it?" Maou asked, pointing to the building next to them.

"Do what? Jump up there?" Shelly questioned, looking back at him.

Maou nodded in response.

"Hahaha! I'd love to see you try." Shelly turned back around chuckling, thinking Maou was trying to cheer her up. "It's okay, I'll figured a way–."

"Whoosh!"

Maou launched himself meters off the ground and landed atop the roof. From up there, he waved at Shelly with a grin.

"W-What!? How?" Shelly was shocked, eyes wide and mouth open. "Sin-Since when could you do that?!"

"I don't know." Maou shrugged his shoulders. "I just can."

"Well… can you see a way out from there?"

"Hmmmm." Maou quickly looked around, then pointed behind Shelly. "I see a lot of people that way."

"That's good. Can you find a path from up there?" Shelly asked.

"Uhh…. I think so." Maou replied. "Just follow me okay?"

"Yeah, lead the way."

Maou jumped from roof to roof, matching his pace with Shelly's while avoiding dead ends and finding the shortest route. Following Maou's lead, Shelly trailed close, jumping over boxes and dodging few people here and there. Soon after, Shelly saw the crowd of people Maou mentioned and dashed out from between the buildings into the open space.

"We're free!" Shelly celebrated.

Maou landed close to Shelly and she excitedly picked him up, hugging him tightly.

"Shelly? Maou?" A familiar voice called out to them. "What're you guys doing here?"

Maou and Shelly looked to the voice.

"Sierra!" They yelled.

"We took a break from job hunting and started exploring the city." Shelly put Maou down.

"So? How's it going?" Sierra asked, dismounting Bella, her horse.

"Apart from a few crappy people and trashy naming skills, it's been good." Shelly answered.

"Oh wait, are you talking about Shnite district?" Sierra giggled.

"Yes, that place. Have you been there before?" Shelly asked pointing to where she came from.

"Yeah, I remember getting lost in there too." Sierra answered. "And what about you Maou? Do you like it here?"

"I saw a bunch of people I've never seen before. They all look so different." Maou replied excitedly. "And there's lots of food at the market. I wanna eat them all."

"Well, sounds like you all have been enjoying yourself so far." Sierra commented.

"Yeah, it's been fun, but what're you doing here?" Shelly asked.

"I went to deliver something this morning then I was sent to look for you two." Sierra took out an envelope, handing it to Shelly.

"For us? Is there money inside?" Shelly shook the envelope but heard nothing. "Awww! I thought there was money inside."

"It's not money but something even better." Sierra hinted, rubbing Bella's neck.

Shelly opened the envelope and pulled out its contents. Two palm sized cards with the names "Shelly Baker" and "Maou Baker" on each and the title citizenship cards on them. Maou stood on his tippy toes reaching eagerly for the cards Shelly examined curiously.

"What are these for?" Shelly gave the cards to Maou.

"You're seen as an official citizen of Vanchordé. Without it, you're a foreigner and have to pay extra in taxes and can't stay here longer than two months." Sierra answered. "Also, if you lose it or damage it, that's twenty gold coins to replace it.."

"Twenty!" Shelly gasped flabbergasted.

Maou froze, slowly taking the cards out his mouth.

"So where are you guys headed?" Sierra asked.

"To the Outer East Wing." Shelly responded. "Do you know where it is?"

"Yeah, I do… but why there?" Sierra questioned.

"So I was looking for a job and I got this from a merchant." Shelly pulled out a fancy card from between her breasts. "He told us to go to a restaurant called 'Amantes Café' and show them this card."

"Hey, do you mind if I see that card for a bit?" Sierra asked, holding out her hand.

"Yeah, here you go."

Shelly gave her the card to her. Sierra stared at it with looks of suspicion and caution. After a small sigh, she handed the card back to Shelly whom placed it back inside her clothes.

"It's a scam." Sierra abruptly stated, handing the card back to Shelly.

"A Scam!" Shelly exclaimed.

"Yeah, but don't worry, I have a better idea. It's not ideal but it'll do for now." Sierra gestured for them to follow as she pulled Bella alongside her

Shelly asked Maou for the citizenship cards which he returned, forgetting to wipe away his saliva from nibbling on them.

"Ewww! Why's it wet?!" Shelly scornfully held onto the cards. "And why are there bite marks?!!!"

Sheltering from Shelly's fury, Maou hurried to Sierra's side, clutching her arm for dear life.

"Where're we going?" Shelly asked, putting away the cards while catching up to Sierra.

"The Adventurer's Guild." Sierra answered. "You can do odd jobs and make a good enough living for a while."

The three journeyed through the city until they came upon a large building with fancier architecture and design than many of the other buildings they passed along the way.

"Wow! Shelly look! That's the thing on Arthur's card." Maou pointed at a flag waving above the building.

Two stone pillars with a triangular stone roof above and the outline of white fire behind the two columns. Above the image is the word "Agrippa" and below the image is the word "Roma".

The three stepped in the building. The inside was spacious and clean with fancy interior designs and a bunch of stairs leading up to a second floor. Groups of people stood about while others sat around tables, some slept, some looked at maps and others engaged in discussion.

"Julia!"

Sierra called out to someone at the front desk preparing and stamping papers.

"Huh?" She quickly looked up, searching for the familiar voice. "Sierra! Long time no see. How are you?"

"I'm good." Sierra leaned on the counter. "How's the hubby?"

"He's doing fine." Julia replied. "But he's been working in overdrive lately. I'm starting to worry for his health"

"Really?! What's going on?" Sierra asked, concerned.

"Well…." Julia rubbed her belly.

Sierra eyes gradually widen and jaw dropped as a realisation struck her.

"He's a bit too excited about being a dad. Haha!" Julia giggled.

"OMG!!! Congrats!" Sierra clasped Julia's hand in excitement. "Have you started picking out baby names yet? What about the baby shower? When is it? You gotta invite me, promise?"

Maou stood beside Shelly confused as to what was causing Sierra and Julia to get excited.

"Hey Shelly, what are they talking?" Maou asked.

"The lady behind the counter is pregnant." Shelly answered.

"What does 'pregnant' mean?" Maou asked.

"Uhmm…. Well." Shelly was caught off guard. "She's… she's having a baby."

"A baby? What's a baby?"

"A baby is a very small person. It's like you but smaller." Shelly answered, wandering to a map on a wall closeby while mumbling her next few words. "The 'miracle of life' they call it. I just call it 'learning to love responsibility' or if you grew up in an orphanage 'learning to love someone else's responsibility'."

"So where do babies come from?" Maou asked, trailing behind Shelly.

"Where you ask? Well, you see Maou–." Shelly paused, scanning her brain for a simple but child friendly explanation. "When two people love each other… they get together and put a baby inside the woman."

"The baby is inside her?!" Maou looked up at Shelly frightened and started tugging at her clothes. "Why's it in her?! Can it breathe?! Can it eat?! Is it dead–?!"

"Wait! Slow down!" Shelly reacted. "And no, It's not dead, it's alive."

"Is it stuck in there?! Where is it?! Is it in her tummy?!" Maou gasped then dashed to Sierra worriedly, tugging at her clothes while pointing at Julia. "Sierra! It's stuck inside her and she's eating it alive!"

"Huh?! Wait, what are you talking about? Is everything okay?" Sierra crouched down.

"The baby! It's stuck inside her and she's eating it alive." Maou hurriedly explained as Shelly dashed over to them. "We need to get it out of there before it's too–!"

Shelly snatched Maou off the ground, covering his mouth.

"That's not how it works!" Shelly blushed, quickly explaining to Maou as he wiggled around. "I'm sorry, he doesn't know what being pregnant means."

Sierra slowly stood up, hiding her face on the counter as she slowly erupted into laughter.

"Hahaha! He thought you were eating the baby! Ahahaha!" Sierra wiped away tears while struggling to regain her composure. "Hey Julia, these were the two people I was gonna introduce to you. As you can tell, they're very fun."

"It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Juliana Cannes. But please just call me Julia." She bowed, the married ring on her finger glistening.

"My name is Shelly Baker and this trouble maker here is Maou." She put him down. "It's a pleasure to meet you too."

"Why is the baby in your tummy if you're not eating it?" Maou pulled his head over the countering, his feet dangling.

Shelly was about to pull Maou away and take him outside for a serious chat but Julia stopped her.

"It's fine, I don't mind." She said. "I'm not eating the baby, he's growing up inside me."

"Growing?" Maou questioned.

"Yup! He's gonna be big and strong like you. Okay?"

Finally being satisfied with her answer, Maou dropped down to his feet and tried imagining the inside of a tummy with someone inside it. Shelly and Sierra on the other hand, began dealing with business.

"I want to sign her up as an adventurer." Sierra patted Shelly on the shoulder, walking away. "Just get her sorted out for me, I have to get back to work. Bye bye now."

Shelly quickly thanked Sierra as left and Maou waved her goodbye.

Julia pulled out some drawers behind the counter and took out a few sheets of paper.

"Can I see your citizenship cards please?" Julia asked.

"Yeah, here it is." Shelly handed hers over. "There's some bite marks, I hope that's not an issue."

"No worries." She comforted. "Damages are bound to happen when you have these for a long while."

"Except I just got them fifteen minutes ago." Shelly mumbled.

"The registering fee is two gold coins." Julia stated.

"Two gold?!" Shelly looked worried. "But I don't have that much."

"Would you like me to send the bill to your benefactor instead?" Julia responded.

"Hold on! I have a benefactor?!" Shelly exclaimed.

"Yes, it says it right here on your citizenship card that you're a beneficiary of the Williamson family." Julia pointed out. "Would you like me to send the bill to them?"

"Umm… yes please." Shelly hesitantly replied.

"Can you read and write?" Julia asked.

"Ye-Yes I can."

"That's wonderful. Could you just sign your name on these documents for me please?"

Julia handed her a pen dipped in liquid ink and pointed out on the paper as to where she should sign but only after informing her to read the details. Shelly took heed and read but the document had some complex wording that were beyond Shelly's capability and vague sections that she couldn't fully comprehend. Signing the documents, she skipped some of the reading. Julia pinned her papers together and placed them on the counter. She looked to Shelly, preparing to give a formal introduction.

"Welcome, Shelly Baker to 'Agrippa Roma'. Vanchordé's largest Adventurer's Guild, backed by the 'Church of Kalos'." Julia stated. "We'll have your Adventurer Card prepared in a few minutes, until then you can't accept any requests but in the meantime you are free to look around."

Julia carried the papers into another room leaving the two to their own devices.

"This place is kinda big, don't you think?" Shelly asked.

"Yeah, the walls are very big too." Maou replied. "Do you think I could climb to the hangy thingy?!"

He pointed at some crystals that had hung from the ceiling, attached to cords.

"Don't you dare do it! You wanna get us kicked out on the first day?" Shelly pulled Maou along with her. "Now come and lets look around like normal people."

"Awww! But it looks so fun."